The group stage draws for Europe's premier football competition were held yesterday evening in Monaco. The draw produced some mouthwatering matchups and a few renewal of old rivalries. Players will be making a return to their old stomping grounds and clubs have a few scores to settle. Here are some of the biggest storylines and subplots to look out for in this year's edition.

Group A
Atletico Madrid vs Monaco.

Radamel Falcao will be making a return to Madrid 4 yrs after that ill-fated move to Manchester United. The Colombian has struggled to rediscover the form that saw him develop into one of the most feared strikers in world football at Atletico. But could a reunion trigger a return to form?

Atleti's winger Thomas Lemar, alongside fellow French internationals Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez will also be facing a club he only just left this summer


Borussia Dortmund vs Monaco

This tie was played at the quarterfinal stage of the 2016/17 season under the shadow of a bomb attack on the Dortmund team bus on their way to the stadium. The attack left the Dortmund players visibly shaken and in no state to play football. The game did go on the next day against public outrage. Monaco ended up winning both legs but the game would be most remembered for the events off the pitch. Hopefully this time around we will get to see the best of both teams under a proper footballing atmosphere in what promises to be an exciting contest.

Group B

Barcelona vs Tottenham

Barcelona will be crossing paths with an old rival in the form of Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine played for their Catalan neighbors Espanyol and coached them from 2009-12. From hitting out at Xavi Hernandez to saying he would rather work on a farm than coach Barca, he had little love for the Blaugrana. After winning none of his matches as Espanyol manager in the Catalan derby, he will be keen to get one over Barcelona.

Inter Milan vs Barcelona

Barcelona will get the chance to exact revenge for a semifinal loss when they take on Inter. In the 2009/10 season, the Spanish giants looking to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit against the Nerrazurri, then coached by Jose Mourinho were knocked out by the Italian side who put up the best 'bus-parking' performance of all time and qualified for the final where they eventually emerged champions.

Group C

PSG vs Liverpool

In what is definitely the most exciting tie of the group stage, French champions PSG will be locking horns with last year finalists Liverpool. This one is a football hipster's wet dream. We will be seeing the two most devastating attacking triumvirates in world football go head-to-head. PSG with Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani on one hand, Liverpool with Salah, Mane and Firmino on the other. A mouth-watering goalfest is on the cards here.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will also be renewing acquaintances with a protege of sorts in new PSG boss Thomas Tuchel. Both Germans have followed similar career paths. Tuchel replaced Klopp when he left Mainz and again at Borussia Dortmund and they play a similar brand of football. Given the attacking philosophy of both managers and the talent on display, this is one you don't want to miss. 180 minutes of high-octane quality football.


Napoli vs Liverpool

Carlo Ancelotti will be coming face-to-face with the team that dished out the most painful defeat of his managerial career. In what is now known as the 'Miracle of Instanbul', AC Milan then coached by Ancelotti threw away a 3-0 half time lead to lose on penalties to Liverpool in the 2005 CL final. He did gain revenge 2 years later in the 2007 final beating Liverpool 2-1 but I'm sure he would like to get another one over Liverpool.

Group H

Manchester United vs Juventus

Talk about saving the best for the last. The spotlight will be on only one man when these two giants of European football collide. Cristiano Ronaldo swapped Manchester for Madrid in the summer of 2009 for a then world record fee of 80 million pounds. After 9 trophy-laden years at the Bernabeu, CR7, now aged 33 decided to make the move to Italy and now gets the chance to soak in the bright lights of Old Trafford once again.

This game has all the makings of a wonderfully-written football script. A legend making a return to the hallowed grounds where he first made his name.

Well. . . With the Champions League making a return today, i've decided to add one more as bonus


Juventus vs Young Boys

Ever wondered what it would look like if a team of old ladies took on a group of young boys in a game of football? Well, here is your chance to see something similar or so.

Juventus, fondly known as the Old Lady of Turin are Champions League veterans with plenty of experience under their belt. They take on the team from Switzerland who are playing in the competition for the very first time. Will experience carry the day or will youth and naivety pull an upset?



Ahem, Mynd44, mukina2 It won't hurt if this thread makes front page, would it?

good job

i will visit this thread before match days

nyabinghi:
good job

Thanks a lot, bro. I didn't think anyone would be interested after the first couple of posts went unnoticed.

pkasso:

Thanks a lot, bro. I didn't think anyone would be interested after the first couple of posts went unnoticed.

it would just dont give up, people in this clime prefer controversial posts

nyabinghi:
it would just dont give up, people in this clime prefer controversial posts

And rubbish posts about sex.